Out of nursing program cause i am smoker!!!
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Help, I am at risk of being out of the nursing program because I am a smoker.
I really could use some advise on how to deal with a very unfair instructor. I am a first year PN student and we... Read More

Help, I am at risk of being out of the nursing program because I am a smoker.

Actually, you're at risk of being out of the program because you knew the rules, yet broke them, and you're not willing to do the punishment.

Did you actually send the letter as described?? :uhoh21:

Btw, at my school the rules and regulations for the nursing program were much more stingent than those for the rest of the school so I'm not sure reading your student handbook will help you much. We also had to abide by the r/r for the clinical sites.

Jan 8, '07

Joined: Nov '05; Posts: 1,883; Likes: 95

I would take the opportunity to quit if I were you. The hospital I do my clinicals finally have a non smoking policy, wich I am very happy. Try to enroll in a program, that can help you quit. I know it is not going to be easy, but the least you can do is try.

Jan 8, '07

Joined: Jul '04; Posts: 5

I know how you feel. As a student you should have rights but as a smoker we have no rights, here where I live a person or patient can not even smoke on the groounds of the hospital. I am a nurse and I smoke. I do not wnat to quit or I would. I was in he hospital for neck surgery. I want to get oout of there becouse I wanted to relax and have a smoke. Smoking relaxes me, I was persscribed medication to help me stop smoking but I could not afford the medication it was like $300.00 per a month! As far as smoke scent being on your clothes, use Frabreeze, also use strong mouth mints. I have always used mints becouse I do not want to affend anyone with my bad breath. ( I also know some people that do not smoke smell real bad and have bad breath, some is due to medicatoin they are taking and some is due from not realing they stink ot maybe dont care) What affends me is strong perfume or some perfume in general. Red Door sets off my headaches and make me feel as though I cant breath.
smokers doont have rights but it may fall under soomthing else. speak with your advisor or soomeone.

Hey,
I am a smoker also. During clinicals, I didn't smoke. You have to just follow their rules until you are on your own time! I went through a lot of gum. I also smoked a lot before clinical. I would just use body spray to cover it up. Febreeze and/or Bath & Body Works does help. Trust me. As far as her telling your mother, who does she think she is. This isn't high school! LOL!

Nothing smells worse than someone who smokes trying to cover it up with Febreeze and body spray. Ick. As if the smoke wasn't bad enough, then you have perfumey smell on top of it.

If I were the pt of a nurse who did that, I'd ask for another nurse. That sort of thing makes me physically ill.

Wow...first of all let me say that I understand this discrimination, as do all the smokers out there. I am a smoker and as much as I want to quit...it's difficult. Being a nurse herself she should at least know that smoking is as addictive as heroine and it's sometimes more difficult to stop. I'm sorry you were treated this way....on the other hand if you were told not to smoke at clinical and yet you did I would take the punishment and just suck it up, even though it isn't her right to judge you, you did go against the rules...I mean that in the nicest way possible. I hope not to offend.

Did you leave the floor to go and smoke or were you on a break? Leaving the floor is a big no-no. We were told that we weren't allowed to smoke and I didn't because I would have been too scared to get caught and frankly, we never had a break to do so. However, I did smoke on my way to school, because that's my time and no one can tell me what to do in my own time, but I did carry a febreeze sort of de-smoker spray so as not to offend anyone with the smell. No one ever claimed they smelled smoke on me, but most of them were smokers too so they wouldn't then now would they?

Moving on...I think the way she berated you in the hallway was unprofessional and the fact that she is making you write these papers probably isn't fair, but more than likely nothing is going to happen to this woman so why not just do the work so that you can proceed in school? If you do move on will you have her again? I hope not. I'm sorry that I don't have any advice for you except to say that if this were me, I'd do the work and not rock the boat anymore than you have to. School is temporary, just do what you have to do to get through it.
Good luck. :spin:

You broke the rules that THIS instructor established and that you knew were established. Doesn't matter if there is a written policy and it doesn't matter if you appeal. You haven't been dropped from the program yet, so my advice is to STOP trying to lash out and do what it takes to protect your position.

Write the papers, suck it up and put on a smile, and don't smoke again around clinicals.

You have to pick your battles. You just can't stand toe to toe with this instructor, no matter how angry you are, no matter how many letters you write, no matter how many complaints you file.

Obviously you are angry and/or upset about the situation. It comes down to this: are those emotions and the need to vindicate yourself more important than finishing school? If so, go for it with reckless abandon and afterwards, figure out what non-nursing job you want to do with your life. If nursing is more important than venting your anger, then DO WHAT IT TAKES TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM.

It's that simple.

It's the two rules of college: 1. The instructor is always right, 2. If you want to pass, see rule #1.

One other item in this thread made me do a double-take: It was a reference to "smoking booths" at a hospital (in Kentucky, I believe). I'd never heard of that. Most hospitals here haven't allowed smoking on hospital grounds for years.

I don't want to be around anyone who smells of cigarette smoke. But it's not illegal to smoke, no matter what this self-appointed ayatollah has to say.

I also live in KY and they have do have smoking booths outside the hospital. I guess for when it's raining and cold out. The main reason they did this was because they banned smoking on the grounds so the staff would walk out to the sidewalk and smoke which looked worse for the hospital and to the public so they caved and gave them a small designated area to smoke. I'm a smoker but wouldn't step foot in one of those booths because they stink so bad it makes you want to gag. We don't have people walking around smoking in our Wal-Mart though...I thought this was funny. You aren't allowed to smoke in restaurants anymore, which doesn't bother me in the least and you certainly can't smoke in the grocery store. Who are these people? lol

Jan 8, '07

Joined: Dec '02; Posts: 41,761; Likes: 48,082

We weren't allowed to smoke at all during clinicals. On campus during classes we could of course smoke on breaks and at lunch. (I say "we" but I've never smoked in my life).

Not knowing the entire situation here I'd have to agree with jimthorp - we don't have enough information to give advice.

I do think the instructor is way out of line in what she is asking an adult to do. I agree that this is not high school or even junior high.

If a rule was broken regarding smoking during clinicals, then there needs to be a process set up to deal with it. The OP needs to find out what the rules and regs and consequences are - and then deal with it appropriately.

As to not being able to tell when people go out to smoke - may I interject that a smoker needs more than breath mints - they need to brush their teeth and use mouth wash. It is the same as if I ate a garlic pizza - a breath mint won't help.

steph

Last edit by Spidey's mom on Jan 8, '07
: Reason: typo

Jan 8, '07

Joined: Dec '05; Posts: 14

Ok i thought I would add some clarification. This incident was not at a hospital, it was a a LTF. 90% of the staff that works there are smokers including the nurses. Until 2 yrs ago this place had a smoking room, indoors, for staff.

I was done with my patient for the day and my patient had asked me to leave her alone to nap. I am a considerate smoker, I try my best to not smell of smoke, and the smoke the instructor smelled was on my jacket. It is cold here and smoke sticks to your clothes when you have to go outside in the cold.

I told her that I would not smoke during or right before clinicals anymore before she assigned the extra work. I have not given her the letter. It was written in a very angry state and I have slept on it. I am going in to speak to her in an hour or so to explain to her in person how I feel about her display in the hallway and my intent to settle things without having to involve anyone but us.

There is not a policy on clinicals and smoking in the written rules. She verbally told us if we smell like smoke we will be docked. I agree smelling like smoke around patients is unprofessional in a hospital setting. However most of the staff at this LTF smoke and there is a smoking area. I already told her it would not happen again after she pulled me aside and asked me if I had smoked. This was a first incident and I feel she has gone overboard because of her personal bias.

After talking to her if she still holds her ground on writing the papers I will write them to be able to continue in the program. I will also go over her head regarding the withholding of my grade and the unfairness of it. I guess I feel someone has to stand up to her at somepoint. She has been bullying most of the class all year so far.

I will also go over her head regarding the withholding of my grade and the unfairness of it. I guess I feel someone has to stand up to her at somepoint. She has been bullying most of the class all year so far.

Remember this dynamic: you are a dime a dozen; there are students lined up to take your place - AND - your tuition has already been paid.

That instructor is practically irreplaceable. There is a dire shortage of instructors, not students.

Life sometimes isn't fair. Fairness will not be the issue here, either. If it comes right down to it, from the school's perspective - you are replaceable, that instructor isn't. THAT'S NOT FAIR. So, what?

As far as the degrading style of punishment, I'm reminded of when I was in the military at age 19 and one of my military peers, new to 'military time', mistook 1500 for 5pm and showed up very late to a planned exercise. Her punishment: she had to write out a conversion scale from military to civilian time - 1,000 times. I am also reminded of the fact that she was never late again.

Look at your thread title: you might be DROPPED over this. If you understand the stakes that well, then keep them in mind when you decide that fairness is more important than continuing.

My advice. Be certain to choose your words carefully with her when you speak to her. It sounds as though she likes controlling situations, so don't give her any reason to think you mean disrespect or any more reasons to want to 'punish' you. (Even if you do secretly want to smash a big ole doughnut up her nose ) I understand you want to discuss this with her and stand up for you rights and you should, but in a professional manner....not necissarily for her, but for your own sake. Good luck with ths meeting and let us know what becomes of it.

Jan 8, '07

Joined: Apr '03; Posts: 7,569; Likes: 2,297

My husband always insists that I bring my neb machine along on any trips we take. A few years ago we went to Reno, and while waiting in the hotel lobby to check in I started wheezing bad enough that I needed to have a neb. I am so glad I live in CA where smoking is not allowed in public establishments. I agree that smokers should be allowed to smoke if they wish, but I disagree with the statement that smokers should have rights to smoke anywhere. I am an asthmatic who grew up in a family of smokers, although I myself have never smoked. Just walking past a person smelling of smoke can trigger an asthma attack. Smokers have the right to smoke in the privacy of their own home or car, but I believe that people in professions like nursing, where many pts have compromised respiratory status, even the smell of smoke should not be allowed. What about my right to breathe??